DIAGNOSES  OF  NEW  SHELLS  FROM  THE 
PACIFIC  OCEAN 

t 

Hit  LIBRARY 

Of  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

BY 

WILLIAM  HEALEY  DALL 

Curator,  Division  of  Mollusks,  United  States  National  Museum 


No.  2002. — From  the  Proceedings  of  the  United  States  National  Museum, 
Vol.  45,  pages  587-597 

Published  June  11,  1913 


Washington 

Government  Printing  Office 

1913 


DIAGNOSES  OF  NEW  SHELLS  FROM  THE 
PACIFIC  OCEAN 


BY 

WILLIAM  HEALEY  DALL 

Curator,  Division  of  Mollusks,  United  States  National  Museum 


No.  2002. — From  the  Proceedings  of  the  United  States  National  Museum, 
Vol.  45,  pages  587-597 

Published  June  11,  1913 


Washington 

Government  Printing  Office 
1913 


DIAGNOSES  OF  NEW  SHELLS  FROM  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN. 


By  William  Healey  Dall. 

Curator  Division  of  Molluslcs,  United  States  National  Museum. 


For  several  years  new  species  of  shells  from  Northwest  America 
and  other  parts  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  have  been  accumulating  in 
the  national  collection,  and,  as  some  of  them  have  been  furnished 
with  manuscript  names  for  the  convenience  of  collectors,  it  was 
thought  best  to  prepare  diagnoses  -of  some  of  these  species  before 
the  manuscript  names  found  their  way  into  print. 

Some  of  the  specimens  have  long  been  in  the  collection,  but  re- 
mained unstudied  on  account  of  the  pressure  of  other  duties;  some 
have  been  contributed  by  generous  correspondents,  and  others 
obtained  from  various  sources.  Figures  of  many  of  them  have  been 
prepared  and  will  appear  later. 

CHRYSODOMUS  EULIMATUS  Dali. 

Chrysodomus  eulimatus  Dall,  Smiths.  Misc.  Coll.,  vol.  50,  No.  1727,  p.  156,  July,  1907. 

Shell  large,  with  a thin  dehiscent  periostracum,  and  about  eight 
whorls  without  the  (lost)  nucleus;  shell  substance  white  with  the 
outer  layer  more  or  less  tinged  with  rosaceous  purple;  whorls  well 
inflated,  the  suture  appressed,  with  a band  of  minor  sculpture  in 
front  of  it;  upper  whorls  with  eight  or  less  rounded  prominent 
flexuous  ribs  extending  from  suture  to  suture,  most  prominent  at 
the  shoulder  of  the  whorl  and  least  so  on  the  presutural  band;  they 
become  obsolete  on  the  first  half  of  the  last  whorl;  spiral  sculpture 
of  three  sizes  of  spiral  threads,  the  larger,  of  which  there  are  eight 
between  the  sutures  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  whorl;  the  second 
size  running  in  the  middle  of  the  wide  interspaces  between  the 
major  cords;  and  lastly  the  finer  ones  which  cover  the  surface  of 
the  presutural  band  and  the  interspaces  between  the  other  threads. 
All  these  are  crossed  by  fine  rather  prominent  incremental  lines. 
Aperture  elongate-ovate  with  a wide  somewhat  recurved  canal; 
body  with  a thin  layer  of  callus;  pillar  with  a thick  white  callous 
border;  siphonal  fasciole  well  marked;  outer  lip  thin,  simple,  sharp, 

Proceedings  U.  S.  National  Museum,  Vol.  45— No.  2002. 

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49911 


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PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


vol.  45. 


crenulate  by  the  external  sculpture;  throat  white,  smooth;  height 
of  shell  168;  of  last  whorl  134;  of  aperture  and  canal  105;  maximum 
diameter  78  mm.  Operculum  large,  dark  brown,  normal  to  the  genus. 

Dredged  at  Aniwa  Bay,  Sakhalin  Island,  at  station  5009,  in  25 
fathoms,  mud,  bottom  temperature  38°  5 F.  38.5°.  U.  S.  Bureau  of 
Fisheries  steamer  Albatross.  Cat.  No.  205371  U.S.N.M. 

Only  a single  adult  specimen  of  this  fine  species  was  obtained. 
It  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  genus.  Originally  described  from  a 
very  young  specimen,  it  was  thought  best  to  give  a new  diagnosis 
from  the  adult. 

TRITONOFUSUS  JORDANI,  new  species. 

Shell  of  moderate  size,  of  about  seven  and  a half  whorls,  the  nucleus 
rounded,  not  swollen  but  rather  large;  suture  distinct,  the  whorls 
moderately  rounded;  surface  covered  with  a dark  orange-brown 
periostracum,  beneath  which  the  shell  substance  is  white ; sculpture 
of  incremental  lines,  not  prominent  but  regular  and  close  set,  crossed 
by  numerous  flat  spirals  with  very  narrow  interspaces,  this  sculpture 
covering  the  whole  surface,  the  spirals  being  slightly  narrower  in 
front  of  the  suture;  on  the  periphery  of  the  last  whorl  there  are 
about  two  spirals  with  their  interspace  in  the  width  of  one  millime- 
ter; aperture  less  than  half  the  length  of  the  shell;  canal  wide,  short, 
sharply  recurved;  outer  lip  simple,  flexuous,  expanded,  receding 
behind  the  periphery  and  advancing  near  the  suture,  connected  over 
the  body  with  the  pillar  by  a thin  layer  of  white  callus;  pillar  short, 
attenuated  in  front;  throat  smooth,  bluish  white;  operculum  ovate, 
with  apical  nucleus,  dark  brown.  Height  of  shell  43;  of  last  whorl 
31;  of  aperture  20;  maximum  diameter  of  shell  21  mm. 

Puget  Sound,  Sucia  Island,  and  Gulf  of  Georgia  in  67  fathoms, 
sand,  bottom  temperature  48°  5 F.  Also  in  Bering  Sea  off  the  south- 
east coast  of  Kamchatka  in  96  to  100  fathoms,  sand,  temperature 
31°  F.  to  33°  1 F.  Cat.  No.  22642,  U.S.N.M. 

The  specimens  are  quite  uniform,  and  nearly  all  have  a ferrugi- 
nous incrustation  on  the  early  whorls.  The  young  have  a lighter 
colored,  more  or  less  olivaceous  periostracum.  The  suture  is  not 
closely  appressed  and  gives  the  aspect  of  being  minutely  channeled, 
especially  on  the  last  whorl. 

It  is  named  after  Dr.  David  Starr  Jordan,  of  Stanford  University. 

BOREOTROPHON  GORGON,  new  species. 

Shell  elongate,  white,  of  seven  whorls,  the  nucleus  small,  smooth, 
rounded,  of  two  whorls;  subsequent  whorls  with  a peripheral 
Spinose  carina  or  cord,  with  two  additional  cords  on  the  base  of  the 
last  whorl;  last  whorl  with  six,  preceding  whorl  with  eight  or  nine 
sharp-edged  varices,  which  become  prominently  spinose  where  they 
intersect  the  cords;  interspaces  smooth  except  for  incremental 
lines;  aperture  ovate,  with  a raised  margin  except  at  the  canal; 
throat  white,  smooth;  operculum  muricoid,  canal  long,  slightly 


1 


NO.  2002. 


DIAGNOSES  OF  NEW  PACIFIC  SHELLS — DALE. 


589 


recurved.  Height  of  shell  38;  of  last  whorl  30;  of  aperture  13; 
maximum  diameter,  exclusive  of  the  spines,  18  mm. 

Dredged  off  Hondo,  Japan,  at  station  3698,  in  153  fathoms,  mud, 
bottom  temperature  65°  F.  Cat.  No.  110771,  U.S.N.M. 

This  elegant  species  has  somewhat  the  aspect  of  a Muricidea 
except  for  its  long  canal,  and  it  is  possible  that  it  should  be  referred 
to  some  section  of  Mur.ex  rather  than  to  BoreotropJion  to  which  it 
seems  also  closely  allied. 

Genus  AMPHISSA  H.  and  A.  Adams. 

COSMIO CONCHA,  new  snbgenns. 

Buccinum  sp.,  Powys,  1835. 

Truncaria  sp.,  H.  and  A.  Adams,  1853. 

Columbella  sp.,  Carpenter,  1856. 

Type. — Buccinum  modestum  Powys,  Prop.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1835, 
p.  94.  Bay  of  Montijo,  Central  America. 

The  type  of  Ampfiissa  is  Buccinum  corrugatum  Keeve.  The 
genus  is  typically  represented  by  a group  of  species  peculiar  to  the 
Northwest  coast  of  America,  and  which  does  not  extend  into  the 
Tropics.  They  are,  in  short,  Columbellids  with  a Buccinoid  shell, 
with  strong  axial,  crossed  by  more  or  less  marked  spiral,  sculpture. 

The  group  now  segregated  is  tropical,  with  its  focus  in  the  Gulf  of 
California,  and  with  a Columbelloid  operculum  and  radula  has  a 
shell  practically  without  axial  sculpture  and  with  strong  spiral 
striation,  especially  on  the  region  near  the  canal,  and  sometimes 
with  a single  groove  directly  in  front  of  the  suture.  There  is  a marked 
thickening  behind  the  outer  lip,  which  is  sharp  and  simple,  the 
typical  species  has  lirations  inside  the  aperture  on  the  outer  wall  of 
the  throat,  but  some  of  the  others  seems  to  be  devoid  of  this  feature. 
The  anterior  end  of  the  columella  is  markedly  attenuated;  the 
colors  are  usually  brown  and  yellow.  There  is  some  superficial 
resemblance  to  the  typical  Truncaria , which,  however,  has  a very 
different,  narrowly  ovate,  operculum  with  the  nucleus  apical,  as  in 
many  species  of  Turris. 

AMPHISSA  (COSMIOCONCHA)  PALMERI,  new  species. 

Shell  smaller  than  A.  modesta  Powys,  and  of  a uniform  pale  brown- 
ish color  when  fresh,  with  a loosely  coiled,  smooth,  glassy  nucleus  of 
two  whorls  and  two  subsequent  nepionic  whorls  which  show  obscure 
traces  of  axial  ribbing;  subsequent  whorls  about  five,  smooth  except 
for  a faint  impressed  line  in  front  of  the  suture,  six  or  seven  strong 
cords  on  the  base  of  the  shell  behind  the  siphonal  fasciole,  and  more 
or  less  striation  on  the  fasciole,  beside  incremental  lines;  whorls 
moderately  rounded,  suture  very  distinct,  not  appressed;  a strong 
rounded  varix  behind  the  outer  lip;  aperture  elongate,  oval,  a small 
callus  on  the  body,  but  no  subsutural  sinus;  outer  lip  sharp,  simple, 


590 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  45. 


internally  with  nine  or  ten  short  lirse,  the  series  not  extending  to  the 
extremes  of  the  lip;  canal  short,  deep,  rather  markedly  recurved. 
Height  of  shell  19;  of  last  whorl  13;  of  aperture  10;  maximum 
diameter  9 mm.  The  same  dimensions  in  A.  modesta  average 
respectively  24,  17,  13,  and  10  mm. 

Head  of  the  Gulf  of  California,  Dr.  E.  Palmer,  Cat.  No.  182587, 
U.S.N.M.,  also  at  station  3034,  in  24  fathoms  off  Point  Fermin  in 
the  Gulf,  by  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Fisheries  steamer  Albatross. 

AMPHISSA  (COSMIOCONCHA)  PERGRACILIS,  new  species. 

Shell  elongate,  slender,  whitish,  with  brownish  flammules,  part  of 
which  are  grouped  in  an  obscure  band  in  front  of  the  suture;  nucleus 
lost;  subsequent  whorls  about  eight,  moderately  convex,  with  no 
line  in  front  of  the  rather  deep  suture;  spiral  sculpture  on  the  canal 
and  base  of  about  20  channeled  grooves  with  wider  flattish  inter- 
spaces; aperture  elongate,  the  inner  lip,  as  far  as  the  end  of  the 
canal  with  a rather  thick  layer  of  white  callus;  outer  lip  sharp  with 
a feeble  varix  behind  it  and  with  about  15  fine  lirations  internally; 
canal  short,  wide,  slightly  recurved.  Height  of  shell  24;  of  last 
whorl  15;  of  aperture  10;  maximum  diameter  7 mm. 

Dredged  at  station  3017  on  the  west  coast  of  Mexico,  in  58  fath- 
oms, green  mud,  off  Cape  Lobos.  Cat.  No.  211030,  U.S.N.M. 

This  is  much  more  slender  than  the  preceding  species. 

AMPHISSA  (COSMIOCONCHA)  PARVULA,  new  species. 

Shell  small,  pale  olivaceous,  slender,  of  about  7 moderately  convex 
whorls;  suture  distinct,  minutely  channeled,  without  any  depressed 
line  in  front  of  it;  sculpture  of  incremental  lines  and  on  the  base 
and  canal  about  25  channeled  grooves  with  flattish,  wider  interspaces; 
the  grooves  grow  fainter  and  narrower  and  the  interspaces  wider, 
till  the  sculpture  becomes  obsolete  near  the  periphery  of  the  whorl; 
’aperture  long  and  narrow,  body  with  a light  wash  of  callus;  outer 
lip  sharp,  simple,  with  a narrow  but  well-marked  varix  behind  it, 
internally  with  about  20  fine,  sharp,  short  lirations  which  extend 
practically  the  whole  length  of  the  aperture;  canal  wide,  deep, 
slightly  recurved.  Height  of  shell  15;  of  last  whorl  10;  of  aperture 
6.5;  maximum  diameter  5 mm. 

Dredged  at  station  2996,  off  La  Paz  Bay,  Gulf  of  California,  by 
the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Fisheries  steamer  Albatross  in  112  fathoms,  green 
mud.  Cat.  No.  211029,  U.S.N.M. 

At  first  sight  this  looks  like  a miniature  A.  pergracilis,  but  on 
closer  scrutiny  it  is  seen  to  have  differential  characters  oJier  than 
those  of  size. 

LIOTIA  LURIDA,  new  species. 

Shell  small,  dull  red  or  purplish  brown,  more  or  less  articulated  on 
the  ridges,  of  about  four  and  a half  whorls;  nucleus  minute,  flattish; 


no.  2002. 


DIAGNOSES  OF  NEW  PACIFIC  SHELLS— DALL. 


591 


last  whorl  with  four  strong,  beaded,  spiral  cords  with  subequal  inter- 
spaces, peripherally;  between  them  and  the  suture,  three  slightly 
smaller  similar  cords,  the  space  at  the  suture  giving  a channeled  effect; 
on  the  base  two  less  prominent  cords  and  two  wider  nodulous  ridges 
around  the  deep,  rather  narrow  umbilicus;  aperture  circular,  the 
outer  lip  thick,  fringed  by  the  ends  of  the  spiral  cords;  axial  sculpture 
of  numerous  fine  radial  threads,  most  obvious  in  the  channels  between 
the  cords;  height  of  shell,  4.5;  maximum  diameter  of  base,  5.5  mm. 

Beach,  San  Josef  Island,  Gulf  of  California,  Cat.  No.  264972, 
U.S.N.M. 

Operculum  multispiral,  calcareous  externally  with  a small  central  pit. 

BOLMA  BARTSCHU,  new  species. 

Shell  thin,  trochoid,  yellowish  white  with  rose-colored  flammules 
and  nebulosities,  with  more  or  less  articulation  on  the  spiral  ridges. 
Nucleus  very  minute,  glassy;  nepionic  shell  white,  depressed  above,  of 
three  rather  rounded  whorls  with  numerous  low  radial  plications  or 
riblets;  subsequent  whorls  four,  with  a sparsely  imbricate  keel  at  the 
periphery  and  a prominent,  beaded,  spiral  cord  one-third  of  the  way 
from  the  appressed  posterior  suture  toward  the  periphery.  This 
arrangement  gives  a channeled  or  turriculate  aspect  to  the  shell  in 
t*he  sutural  region.  The  last  whorl  has  a third  keel,  imbricate  like 
the  peripheral  one  but  less  prominent,  bordering  the  base;  the  space 
between  the  beaded  cord  and  the  peripheral  keel  is  on  the  upper 
whorls  finely  spirally  striated,  but  on  the  last  whorl,  first  two,  and 
then  a third,  small  spiral  equidistant  threads,  articulated  white  and 
dark  rose  color,  are  developed;  the  imbrications  on  the  two  keels  are 
short,  distant,  subspinose,  and  channeled  in  front;  the  base  is  nearly 
smooth,  with  fine  spiral  striation  and  a widespread,  transparent,  thin 
layer  of  enamel  in  front  of  the  aperture;  pillar  smooth,  arcuate,  pearly; 
outer  lip  thin,  sharp,  markedly  expanded;  throat  pearly;  aperture 
quite  oblique;  operculum  white,  smooth,  constructed  like  that  of 
B.  rugosa,  but  with  the  external  depression  much  less  marked;  altitude 
of  shell  30,  maximum  diameter  35,  diameter  of  operculum  15  mm. 

Dredged  in  205  fathoms,  sand,  off  Dowarra  Island,  near  Ternate, 
Moluccas.  Cat.  No.  214444,  U.S.N.M. 

The  shell  was  so  tightly  closed  by  the  operculum  that  the  animal 
had  decayed,  though  put  in  spirits,  but  the  radula  was  preserved  and 
showed  a central  tooth  of  squarish  form  without  cusps,  on  a larger 
base,  with  four  laterals  on  each  side;  their  cusps  denticulate  with  a 
prominent  spur  below,  behind  the  cusp,  and  the  usual  large  mass  of 
uncini.  From  what  was  left  of  it,  the  sides  of  the  foot  seemed  desti- 
tute of  any  epipodial  appendages. 

This  very  lovely  shell  is  so  thin  and  delicate  that  it  was  a surprise 
to  find  it  possessing  a heavy  calcareous  operculum. 

It  is  named  after  Dr.  Paul  Bartsch. 


592 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


vol.  45. 


MARGARITES  SIMBLUS,  new  species. 

Shell  pale  gray,  beehive-shaped,  with  a blunt  apex  and  five  and  a 
half  rapidly  enlarging  convex  whorls;  nucleus  minute;  subsequent 
whorls  pohshed,  finely  spirally  striate,  crossed  by  very  fine  flexuous 
strise  corresponding  to  the  fines  of  growth,  which  more  or  less  micro- 
scopically crenulate  the  interspaces  between  the  spirals;  suture  not 
impressed;  base  with  an  obscure  angulation  peripherally,  the  sculp- 
ture similar  to  the  rest  of  the  shell  but  more  pronounced;  umbilicus 
narrow,  deep;  aperture  subquadrate,  oblique;  the  pillar  thin,  white; 
the  throat  pearly.  Height  of  shell,  13;  of  last  whorl,  10;  maximum 
diameter  of  base,  14  mm. 

Dredged  in  deep  water,  off  Santa  Barbara  Channel,  California. 
Cat.  No.  267172,  U.S.N.M.  The  specimen  did  not  contain  the  animal 
or  operculum. 

CALLIOSTOMA  NEPHELOIDE,  new  species. 

Shell  acute-conical,  trochiform,  of  about  nine  whorls,  yellowish, 
with  radiating  dark-purple  nebulosities  and  flammules;  nucleus  more 
or  Jess  inverted,  white,  glassy,  minute;  a nepionic  whorl  and  a half 
follows,  with  three  spiral,  latterly  beaded  cords ; the  remaining  sculp- 
ture comprises  a strong  prominently  beaded  cord  at  the  periphery 
immediately  in  front  of  which  the  suture  is  laid;  on  the  last  whorl, 
between  the  periphery  and  the  suture  behind  it,  are  about  a dozen 
threads  smaller  than  that  at  the  periphery  but  equally  and  uniformly 
beaded,  with  subequal,  smooth  interspaces,  and  mostly  alternating 
in  size;  there  is  no  obvious  axial  sculpture;  base  bordered  by  a cord 
(without  beading)  of  the  middle  size,  between  which  and  the  center 
of  the  base  are  18  to  20  flattish  straplike  spirals,  faintly  irregularly 
undulated  and  with  subequal  or  narrower  interspaces,  except  the 
three  or  four  nearest  the  columella  which  are  larger,  more  distant, 
and  with  more  or  less  obscure  nodulation;  base  only  slightty  convex; 
pillar  arcuate,  white,  with  an  obscure  ridge  around  the  imperforate 
umbilical  region,  ending  at  the  anterior  end  of  the  pillar  in  a nodulous 
swelling.  Aperture  broken,  but  evidently  subquadrate  with  thin, 
simple,  outer  lip.  Height  of  shell,  25;  of  last  whorl,  15;  maximum 
diameter  of  base,  22  mm. 

Station  2804,  Panama  Bay,  in  47  fathoms,  muddy  bottom,  Cat.  No. 
96637,  U.S.N.M. 

This  species  is  represented  only  by  one  broken  specimen,  but  when 
perfect  must  be  one  of  the  most  elegant  of  the  West  American  species 
of  this  elegant  group,  and  quite  distinct  from  any  of  the  others. 

PECTEN  (PSEUD AMUSIUM)  ARCES,  new  species. 

Shell  hyaline  white,  with  no  anterior  ear,  subcircular,  slightly  con- 
vex; hinge  line  rather  long,  ligament  and  pit  very  small,  entire  surface 
of  convex  valve  sculptured  with  subequal  radial  threads  and  similar 


no.  2002.  DIAGNOSES  OF  NEW  PACIFIC  SHELLS — DALE.  593 

concentric  threads,  forming  nearly  square  equal  reticulations,  about 
four  to  a square  millimeter;  the  intersections  are  slightly  prominent 
on  the  disk  and  more  or  less  minutely  spinose  on  the  ends  of  the 
valve;  beside  these  the  entire  valve  is  sculptured  with  minute  equal 
radial  lines,  about  six  to  a reticulation;  the  interior  of  the  valve  is 
glassy,  the  sculpture  showing  through.  The  flatter  valve  has  similar 
sculpture,  with  a narrow  smooth  submargin,  a ctenolium  of  five  or  six 
free  teeth,  a moderately  deep  byssal  notch  and  five  imbricated  rays 
on  the  ear  above  the  fasciole  of  the  notch. 

Height,  35;  length,  34.5;  diameter,  6.0  mm. 

Off  Santa  Barbara,  California,  in  over  500  fathoms,  muddy  bottom. 
Cat.  No.  267169,  U.S.N.M. 

A neat  species,  remarkable  for  the  even  character  of  its  reticula- 
tion and  its  uniformity  over  both  valves. 

CUSPID  ARIA  SUBGLACIALIS,  new  species. 

Shell  large  for  the  genus,  chalky,  with  a coarse  dehiscent  olivaceous 
periostracum;  equivalve,  nearly  equilateral.  Beaks  nearly  in  the 
center  of  the  shell,  anterior  dorsal  margin  arcuately  descending,  ante- 
rior end  of  shell  ovately  rounded;  posterior  slope  straight,  or  slightly 
distally  recurved,  with  a short  compressed  dis tally  gaping  rostrum, 
terminally  subtruncate;  base  arcuate,  somewhat  patulous  below  and 
behind  the  beaks,  incurved  at  the  beginning  of  the  rostrum;  hinge  in 
the  left  valve  with  a small  obliquely  backwardly  directed  chondro- 
phore;  in  the  right  valve  there  is  also  a strong  lamina  parallel  with  the 
dorsal  margin  and  separated  from  it  by  a groove  which  receives  the 
edge  of  the  opposite  valve  in  closing;  beaks  opisthocoelous,  incon- 
spicuous. Height,  24;  length,  39;  diameter,  20  mm. 

Off  the  Californian  coast  in  deep  water.  Cat.  No.  265904,  U.S.N.M. 
Nearest  to  C.  glacialis  M.  Sars,  from  which  it  differs  in  the  less  promi- 
nent and  less  posterior  beaks  and  less  recurved  rostrum. 

PSEPHIDIA  CYMATA,  new  species. 

Shell  small,  white,  solid,  rounded  triangular,  with  inconspicuous, 
somewhat  anterior  beaks,  the  lunule  and  escutcheon  very  feebly 
indicated;  surface  with  fine  concentric  but  not  perfectly  regular  low 
threadlike  sculpture;  periostracum  yellowish,  rather  coarse;  hinge 
of  the  genus;  inner  margins  smooth,  interior  disk  polished,  the  pallial 
sinus  small,  ascending,  the  inner  extreme  bluntly  rounded;  muscular 
impressions  distinct,  ligament  small  and  weak.  Height  5.5;  length 
6.0;  diameter  2.5  mm. 

Near  Cerros  Island,  Lower  California,  in  shallow  water.  Oat.  No. 
266158,  U.S.N.M. 

This  has  nearly  the  profile  of  P.  lordi  Baird,  but  is  much  less 
inflated,  and  the  surface  is  concentrically  sculptured  instead  of  smooth. 

80459°— Proc.N.M.vol.45— 13 38 


594 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


vol.  45. 


HALICARDISSA,  new  genus. 

Shell  recalling  Halicardia  and  Verticordia,  finely  granuiose  extern- 
ally, with  a few  strong  radial  ribs;  the  distinctive  characters  are  ana- 
tomical. The  shell  has  been  figured.1 

The  soft  parts  recall  those  of  Halicardia  but  instead  of  having  a 
thin  netlike  gill  attached  on  each  side  to  a more  or  less  convoluted 
fleshy  siphonal  septum,  thus  completing  the  separation  of  the  pedal 
and  siphonal  chambers,  the  septum  is  thin  and  incomplete  behind, 
so  that  it  does  not  cut  off  the  siphonal  from  the  pedal  chamber 
completely,  and  the  gills  form  no  part  of  it  but  are  free,  except  at 
the  proximal  end,  and  appear  to  have  both  direct  and  reflexed 
laminae;  the  foot  is  more  like  the  usual  pelecypod  foot,  with  no  devel- 
oped opisthopodium,  and  the  palps  offer  nothing  exceptional.  The 
soft  parts,  in  brief,  are  intermediate  between  those  of  Verticordia 
proper  and  the  ordinary  pelecypod,  anatomically,  and  much  nearer 
the  former  than  to  the  typical  Halicardia. 

Type. — Verticordia  perplicata  Dali,  from  812  fathoms  near  the 
Galapagos  Islands.  Cat.  .No.  266804,  U.S.N.M. 

Shells  of  the  genus  Halicardia  were  referred  to  Mytilimeria  by 
Verrill  and  Locard,  and  the  present  species  would  from  the  shell 
alone  be  suspected  to  belong  to  Halicardia. 

LYONSIA  (ALLOGRAMMA)  AMABILIS,  new  species. 

Shell  thin,  with  a pale  olivaceous  periostracum  and  pearly  interior, 
the  lithodesma  small.  The  sculpture  resembles  closely  that  of  the 
type  of  the  group,  L.  ( A .)  formosa  Jeffreys,  from  the  Canaries,  but 
differs  in  the  following  details;  the  anterior  transverse  ripples,  the 
central  nodulous  ray,  and  the  radial  ridge  below  the  posterior  dorsal 
area  are  more  vertically  directed;  on  the  latter  area  there  is  only 
faint  indication  of  the  radial  ribbing  which  in  L.  formosa  is  distinct 
and  minutely  spinose;  the  anterior  end  is  longer  than  the  posterior, 
while  in  formosa  the  reverse  is  the  case;  the  coloration  of  the  perio- 
stracum is  olivaceous  green  while  in  formosa  it  is  ferruginous  brown. 
Length  23;  of  anterior  end  12;  height  15;  diameter  12  mm. 

Santa  Barbara  Channel,  California,  in  deep  water.  Cat.  No. 
267161,  U.S.N.M 

This  is  a much  larger  shell  than  the  Atlantic  species  of  the  same 
group. 

LYONSIA  (ALLOGRAMMA)  QAHTJENSIS,  new  species. 

Shell  resembling  the  preceding,  but  somewhat  smaller,  pale  brown, 
with  the  anterior  transverse  ripples  fewer  and  less  vertical  than  in 
either  of  the  other  species,  the  median  ray  less  distinct  and  wider, 
composed  of  feeble  undulations;  the  posterior  dorsal  area  with  low 
transverse  instead  of  radial  sculpture  over  its  lower  half;  the  posterior 

i Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  vol.  12,  1889,  pi.  8,  fig.  1. 


no.  2002. 


DIAGNOSES  OF  NEW  PACIFIC  SHELLS— DALL. 


595 


end  more  attenuated,  and  the  beaks  almost  exactly  central.  Length 
21.75;  of  anterior  end  10.75;  height  13.0;  diameter  10.0  mm. 

South  coast  of  Oahu  Island,  Hawaiian  Islands,  in  310  fathoms, 
sand,  bottom  temperature  43.5°  F.  Cat.  No.  252329,  U.S.N.M. 

LYONSIA  PUGETENSIS,  new  species. 

Shell  large,  thin,  pearly  under  a thin  olivaceous  gray  periostracum 
which  is  covered  with  fine  radial  lines  to  which  fine  sand  adheres 
strongly,  so  that  an  attempt  to  remove  the  sand  also  destroys  the 
greater  part  of  the  periostracum;  the  shell  is  slightly  inequivalve  and 
very  inequilateral,  the  anterior  end  being  much  shorter;  the  perios- 
tracum projects  over  the  shelly  margin;  the  anterior  end  is  evenly 
rounded,  the  posterior  rostrate,  the  beaks  not  conspicuous;  the  base 
is  convexly  arcuate  in  the  middle  but  is  rapidly  attenuated  toward 
the  rostrum,  which  is  terminally  truncated;  interior  pearly,  pallial 
area  relatively  small  within  the  somewhat  irregular  unsinuated  pallial 
line;  hinge  edentulous  with  a small  narrow  lithodesma.  Length  of 
shell  36;  of  anterior  portion  15;  height  at  beaks  17;  maximum  diam- 
eter 10  mm. 

Another  specimen  is  50  mm.  long  and  22  mm.  high,  while  a third  is 
52  mm.  long  and  28  mm.  high. 

The  type,  Cat.  No.  249966,  U.S.N.M.,  is  from  the  coast  of  Wash- 
ington (H.  Hannibal);  another  is  from  Chignik  Bay,  Alaska,  in  16 
fathoms,  sand  (Hall) ; and  a third  from  Puget  Sound  (Kincaid) . 

This  is  the  largest  Lyonsia  of  the  coast,  if  we  except  Entodesma 
( Agriodesma ) saxicola  Baird.  The  smaller  specimen  was  taken  as 
type  because  of  the  better  condition  of  the  surface,  the  periostracum 
in  adults  being  largely  dehiscent. 

LYONSIELLA  MAGNIFICA,  new  species. 

Soft  parts;  siphonal  orifices  not  produced,  both  profusely  papillose 
and  separated  externally  by  a bare  space;  incurrent  siphon  with  a 
strongly  marked  circular  valve  internally.  Gills  flat,  fleshy,  with  two 
laminae  completely  soldered  to  the  fleshy  siphonal  septum  and  with 
that  completely  separating  the  pedal  and  siphonal  chambers;  there 
are  no  perforations  in  the  septum  and  no  free  portions  of  the  gills; 
foot  cylindrical,  grooved  behind,  with  a long  and  profuse  byssus  of 
numerous  threads;  mantle  closed  except  for  the  narrow  byssal  fora- 
men and  the  siphonal  orifices;  palps  short,  soldered  to  the  mantle 
except  behind  in  front  of  the  foot;  mantle  margins  smooth.  The 
excurrent  siphon  has  a small  short  valve  projecting  from  its  orifice, 
which  when  contracted  is  bilabiate,  the  fold  vertical.  The  general 
anatomy  recalls  that  of  Lyonsiella  abyssicola,  in  which,  however, 
Pelseneer  indicates  an  excurrent  siphonal  tube  of  moderate  length. 

Shell  thin,  inflated,  subquadrate,  inequilateral,  inequivalve,  gaping 
behind;  the  right  valve  a little  larger  than  the  other;  color  pearly 


596 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


vol.  45. 


white  with  a pale  olive  periostracum  and  a minutely  granular  surface, 
the  granules  being  disposed  in  radial  lines  with  wider  interspaces; 
beaks  small,  acute,  very  anterior,  prosoccelous,  with  a minute  lunular 
depression  in  front  of  them;  a wide  shallow  depression  with  an  obscure 
ridge  above  it  extends  backward  dorsally  to  the  posterior  margin, 
with  a lanceolate  area  between  the  ridges  of  the  two  valves;  base 
almost  parallel  with  the  dorsal  hinge  line;  margins  of  the  valves 
simple,  sharp,  slightly  tortuous;  interior  pearly;  hinge  with  a small 
internal  res  ilium  on  an  inconspicuous  nymph,  with  a very  small  oval 
lithodesma.  Height  16.5;  length  25;  length  of  anterior  end  4; 
diameter,  16  mm. 

In  deep  water  off  Mazatlan,  Mexico,  Cat.  No.  266802,  U.S.N.M. 
This  is  the  largest  of  the  genus  yet  described. 

POROMYA  (DERMATOMYA)  TENUICON CHA,  new  species. 

Shell  small,  thin,  olivaceous,  the  pearly  luster  showing  through  the 
periostracum;  equivalve,  inequilateral,  anterior  end  shorter,  rounded 
in  front;  posterior  end  longer,  roundly  truncate;  beaks  prominent, 
prosocoelous,  with  a marked  but  uncrrcumscribed  depression  in  the 
lunular  region  in  front  of  them;  interior  pearly,  brilliant;  margins 
simple,  sharp ; hinge  in  the  left  valve  with  a small  internal  resilium 
seated  on  an  inconspicuous  oblique  chondrophore,  with  a notch 
immediately  in  front  of  it,  into  which  fits  a projecting  denticle  on 
the  corresponding  part  of  the  opposite  valve.  Height,  13;  length  of 
shell,  16;  of  anterior  portion,  6;  diameter,  10  mm. 

In  deep  water  off  Monterey  Bay,  California.  Cat.  No.  266865, 
U.S.N.M. 

This  recalls  P.  (D.)  equatorialis  Dali,  but  is  more  delicate,  less 
inflated  and  smaller. 

ERYCINA  COLPOICA,  new  species. 

Shell  small,  white,  equivalve,  very  inequilateral,  the  anterior  end 
much  the  longer  and  somewhat  expanded,  posterior  shorter  and 
smaller,  both  rounded;  the  dorsal  and  basal  margins  slightly  arcuate? 
subparallel;  surface  sculptured  only  with  concentric  incremental 
lines,  covered  with  a thin,  pale  yellowish  periostracum;  beaks  low, 
inconspicuous,  valves  rather  compressed;  interior  polished,  hinge 

formula  \ chondrophore  very  narrow,  oblique,  and  posteriorly 

directed.  Length  of  shell,  10;  of  anterior  part,  8;  height,  6;  diame- 
ter, 3.5  mm. 

Beach  at  the  nead  of  the  Gulf  of  California.  Dr.  E.  Palmer,  Cat. 
No.  267408,  U.S.N.M. 

ROCHEFORTIA  COMPRESSA,  new  species. 

Shell  small,  thin,  glassy,  compressed,  subovate,  inequilateral; 
beaks  low,  pointed,  inconspicuous ; surface  very  finely,  sharply,  evenly, 
concentrically  striated;  anterior  end  longer,  evenly  rounded;  poste- 


NO.  2002. 


DIAGNOSES  OF  NEW  PACIFIC  SHELLS — DALL. 


597 


rior  more  pointed;  interior  polished,  the  muscular  scars  perceptible, 
small;  hinge  small  and  weak,  constructed  of  two  feeble  laterals  in 
each  valve  and  a median  internal  resilium.  Length  of  shell,  7 ; of 
anterior  part,  4;  height,  6;  diameter,  2 mm. 

With  the  last.  Cat.  No.  214445,  U.S.N.M. 

ALIGENA  NUCEA,  new  species. 

Shell  small,  white,  rather  solid,  ovate,  slightly  inequilateral,  mod- 
erately inflated;  surface  rather  rude,  with  irregular,  rather  coarse 
incremental  lines;  beaks  full,  somewhat  posterior,  the  anterior  end 
of  the  shell  shorter;  interior  porcellanous,  the  muscular  scars  unusu- 
ally large,  the  pallial  line  irregular,  entire;  hinge  with  a long,  strong, 
narrow,  chondrophore,  a small  pustular  projection  in  front  of  it,  as 
usual  in  the  genus.  Length  of  shell,  4.0;  of  anterior  portion,  1.75; 
height,  3.0;  diameter,  2.2  mm. 

Gulf  of  California.  Cat.  No.  267149,  U.S.N.M. 

This  species  recalls  A.  cokeri  Dali,  of  Peru,  but  wants  the  median 
radial  depression  and  has  a proportionately  stronger  hinge. 

VESICOMYA  ( ARCHTVESIC A? ) SUAVIS,  new  species. 

Shell  oval,  white,  with  an  elegantly  polished,  minutely  concentric- 
ally sparsely  lamellose  periostracum,  smoother  near  the  beaks;  equi- 
valve,  inequilateral,  the  beaks  nearer  the  anterior  end;  there  is  no 
lunule,  but  a long  lanceolate  depression  radiating  from  the  beaks, 
bordered  on  each  side  by  an  obscure  radial  rib,  simulates  an  escutcheon 
though  not  defined  by  any  incised  line;  shell  moderately  inflated,  the 
beaks  full  but  low  and  prosocoelous;  the  ligament  external,  strong, 
and  conspicuous ; the  two  ends  of  the  shell  subequal  and  rounded,  the 
anterior  end  a little  smaller;  interior  chalky,  with  large  adductor 
scars  and  an  entire  pallial  line;  hinge  like  that  of  V.  gigas  but  less 
developed;  length  of  the  shell,  34;  of  the  anterior  part,  10;  height, 
22;  diameter,  13  mm. 

West  of  Tiburon  Island,  Gulf  of  California,  in  deep  water.  Cat. 
No.  266881,  U.S.N.M. 

This  species,  by  the  shell,  belongs  to  the  group  of  V.  lepta  and  gigas , 
but  the  soft  parts  being  unknown  its  place  must  remain  uncertain. 


